Media statement:
The Dan Davin Literary Foundation is excited to announce that this year they will be still hosting their annual writing competitions. “Despite not being able to host events as part of the Southland Festival of the Arts because of Covid-19 and the lockdown there is no reason the 2020 Dan Davin Award cannot go ahead,” says Chair Rebecca Amundsen.

This year there will be a significant change for the two student writing competitions. Usually these competitions are limited to short story writing. This year the competitions will be broader and will be creative writing competitions instead. This means entries are not limited to short story, they could also be poetry, script writing, song writing, graphic novels, or children’s story. Chair Rebecca Amundsen believes this provides a fantastic opportunity for students to write in the area they are most interested in. Especially at this time when students may have had more time to indulge their personal writing interests.

It also means the Foundation will provide a range of judges to cover the various types of entries submitted and it is hoped that every entry will receive a comment from their judge, not just place getters as previously.

For adults this year’s competition will be a poetry writing one. This follows the usual pattern of alternating each year between short story and poetry writing.

For more information on this year’s writing competitions email us at dandavin@xtra.co.nz, visit our website www.dandavin.org.nz or our Facebook.  Details will be added to each over the coming days.

​For more information call Rebecca (Chair) 027 2252 664 or email phil.becs@xtra.co.nz

Details are now out and the entries can now be submitted.

Click here to General Conditions of Entry

Writers must:

1. Live in or have a home address in the Southland province or in the Queenstown, Glenorchy, Arrowtown, Tapanui and Heriot areas.
2. Complete the entry form by clicking the REGISTER button below and email your entry to dandavin@xtra.co.nz by 5.00pm on 28 July 2017.  

​In a change from previous years, writers in the Junior and Under 19 sections do not need to get a teacher to sign their entries.
 
Adults must pay a $5.00 entry fee by post to Dan Davin Literary Foundation, PO Box 29, Invercargill 9840 or by bank transfer to 03-1746-0078140-000.  Please put your name in the particulars. There is no entry fee for the other awards.
Entries must not defame any person or corporate body nor infringe or breach any rights of copyright.
The Dan Davin Literary Foundation reserves the right to publish any place getting writing entered in the competitions.
The judge's decision is final.
Winners will be notified by phone or email.
Enquiries to: dandavin@xtra.co.nz.

Sponsorship Opportunities

We have a number of sponsorship or funding opportunities available.

The Dan Davin Short Story Conference appeals to a wide range of people from throughout New Zealand. We have speakers coming from all over the country as well as delegates. These attendees are largely writers or academics. Many of them host blogs or writing related websites. Our aim is to provide them with a unique Southern experience that inspires them to write about Southland and their experience here either through online means or as part of their writing. As a supporter of this conference there is an increased opportunity of attendees acknowledging your support.

Keynote Speaker Support
We have 4 keynote speakers attending the conference – Janet Wilson, Owen Marshall, Dame Fiona Kidman and Tracey Slaughter. Each requires accommodation whilst in Invercargill and travel to get to Invercargill. For $700 you could be a Speaker Sponsor.

This will give you:

• The opportunity to be named in the Dan Davin Short Story conference programme ie Owen Marshall presented by (Business Name).
• This will also include promotion via our Facebook page and advertising.
• You will be able to introduce the speaker who you are sponsoring
• You will be able to include information in our delegate registration packs
• You will receive one free registration at the conference (Valued at $200).
• You will be able to have a display space or pull up banner displayed in the main auditorium.

Product sponsor
We are also looking for product sponsors to help cover general costs of the conference. For $200 you could be a product sponsor.

This will give you:

• The opportunity to have a display or pull up banner at the conference
• You will be able to provide an item for the delegate registration pack.
• You will be acknowledged in our printed material and through our Facebook page promotion.

Product Discounts
We are offering delegates the opportunity to enjoy the best Southland has to offer including a bus trip to Bluff and Riverton and organised tours.

For offering product discounts you will receive:

• Mention and acknowledgement in our conference registration information and online through our website and Facebook page

Funders Support 
Funders will be acknowledged for their contribution to the conference.

This will include:

• Mention and acknowledgement in our conference registration information and online through our website and Facebook page
• Opportunity to have something in the delegate’s registration pack
• Mention and acknowledgement throughout the conference from the MC
• Opportunity to speak at the conference
• Opportunity to have a pull up banner or display in the main auditorium

We are happy to discuss other opportunities to have you involved in the Dan Davin Short Story conference if these options do not suit you. We are happy to answer any questions. Thank you very much for considering our proposal.

​For enquiries please contact:  dandavin@xtra.co.nz​

The Dan Davin Conference on the New Zealand Short Story – its traditions and departures – will be held 1st - 3rd of September, 2017.

The conference is an opportunity to celebrate Southland-born author Dan Davin as one of the fathers of the modern New Zealand short story, and the development of the New Zealand short story to today. The short story has always been of significance in New Zealand literature, and continues to be an important form of writing. Some of New Zealand’s foremost writers of the genre including Owen Marshall, Dame Fiona Kidman and Tracey Slaughter will attend.  Janet Wilson will be key note speaker. It will be the first conference for many years devoted entirely to the short story and its place in New Zealand literature.

We are able to provide discounted accommodation at the central city Kelvin Hotel and Ascot Park (outskirts). If you arrive early on Friday we can provide discounted passes to Bill Richardson’s Transport World and the Classic Motorcycle Mecca. And if we have adequate interest we can also provide discounts to visit Stewart Island on Monday 4 September.

Dunedin’s University Book Shop will be the Dan Davin Short Story conference bookseller with copies of speaker’s works and the ability to take orders.

For enquiries please contact: dandavin@xtra.co.nz

To register your interest in attending please click Register Here link below

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